A dazzling, prize-winning graphic biography of one of the world's most revered writers. Winner of Spain's National Comic Prize and published to acclaim in Ireland, here is an extraordinary graphic biography of James Joyce that offers a fresh take on his tumultuous life. With evocative anecdotes and hundreds of ink-wash drawings, Alfonso Zapico invites the reader to share Joyce's journey, from his earliest days in Dublin to his life with his great love, Nora Barnacle, and their children, and his struggles and triumphs as an artist. Joyce experienced poverty, rejection, censorship, charges of blasphemy and obscenity, war, and crippling ill-health. A rebel and nonconformist in Dublin and a harsh critic of Irish society, he left Ireland in self-imposed exile with Nora, moving to Paris, Pola, Trieste, Rome, London, and finally Zurich. He overcame monumental challenges in creating and publishing Dubliners, Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, and Finnegan's Wake. Along the way, he encountered a colorful cast of characters, from the Irish nationalists Charles Parnell and Michael Collins to literary greats Yeats, Proust, Hemingway, and Beckett, and the likes of Carl Jung and Vladimir Lenin.

THE ART OF HORROR: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY Amazingly there has never been a book quite like ÊThe Art of HorrorÊ ä a celebration of frightful images compiled and presented by some of the genre's most respected names. While acknowledging the beginnings of horror-related art in legends and folk tales the focus of the book is on how the genre has presented itself to the world since the creations of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley first became part of the public consciousness in the 19th century. It's all here: from early engravings ä via dust jackets book illustrations pulp magazines movie posters comic books and paintings ä to today's artists working entirely in the digital realm.ÞEditor Stephen Jones and his stellar team of contributors have sourced visuals from archives and private collections (including their own) worldwide ensuring an unprecedented selection that is accessible to those discovering the genre while also including many images that will be rare and unfamiliar to even the most committed fan.ÞFrom the shockingly lurid to the hauntingly beautiful ä including images of vampires werewolves zombies ghosts demons serial killers alien invaders and more ä every aspect of the genre is represented in ten themed chapters. Quotes from artists/illustrators and a selection from writers and filmmakers are featured throughout.

VIDEOTAPES FROM HELL VIDEOTAPES FROM HELL

This never-before-told story gives a fascinating look at a strange moment in pop-culture history that remains an object of fascination even today. Bea Arthur as the owner of the Mos Eisley Cantina. Long scenes entirely of Wookies bleating at each other, without subtitles. Harvey Korman, in drag, as a four-armed Space Julia Child. Six minutes of Jefferson Starship performing for Art Carney and a bored Imperial Guard. Mark Hamill, fresh from his near-fatal motorcycle accident, slathered in pancake makeup. A salacious holographic burlesque from Diahann Carroll. Even by the standards of the 1970s, even compared to Jar-Jar Binks, the legendary 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is a peerlessly cringeworthy pop-culture artifact. George Lucas, who completely disowned the production, reportedly has said, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.” Just how on earth did this thing ever see the light of day? To answer that question, as Steven Kozak shows in this fascinating and often hilarious inside look into the making of the Special, you have to understand the cultural moment in which it appeared—a long, long time ago when cheesy variety shows were a staple of network television and Star Wars was not yet the billion-dollar multimedia behemoth that it is today. Kozak explains how the Special was one piece of a PR blitz undertaken by Lucas and his colleagues as they sought to protect the emerging franchise from hostile studio executives. He shows how, despite the involvement of some of the most talented people in the business, creative differences between movie and television writers led to a wildly uneven product. He gives entertaining accounts of the problems that plagued production, which included a ruinously expensive cantina set; the acrimonious departure of the director and Lucas himself; and a furious Grace Slick, just out of rehab, demanding to be included in the production. Packed with memorable anecdotes, drawing on extensive new interviews with countless people involved in the production, and told with mingled affection and bewilderment, this never-before-told story gives a fascinating look at a strange moment in pop-culture history that remains an object of fascination even today.

In the thirty years since its release, The Crow has become the ultimate cult movie, with a dedicated worldwide following, two sequels, and a persistent fascination owing to the tragedy that came to define its legacy, in which star Brandon Lee was killed in a strange on-set accident during the last days of filming. Long-anticipated remake of The Crow to hit theaters Fall, 2024 from director Rupert Sanders starring Bill Skarsgård "You won't find a more comprehensive, step-by-step account... a cult classic that continues to fascinate... A fitting and emotional tribute to the movie, and its late star, Brandon Lee."—Sean O'Connell, author of Release the Snyder Cut This "behind-the-scenes retrospective proves a haunting read, as Baiss skillfully escorts the reader through tragedy, despair, hope, and modern Hollywood resurrection.”—John Kenneth Muir, author of Horror Films FAQ, creator of Enter the House Between In the thirty years since its release, The Crow has become the ultimate cult movie, with a dedicated worldwide following, three sequels, and a persistent fascination owing to the tragedy that came to define its legacy, in which star Brandon Lee was killed in a strange on-set accident during the last days of filming. In this fully revised and updated edition, author Bridget Baiss tells the full story of The Crow, from the initial adaptation of James O’Barr’s graphic novel, through its production and Lee’s death, to its triumphant release, enduring appeal, and impact on on-set firearms safety. Drawing on unprecedented access to the film’s cast and crew, including new interviews and research conducted since the release of the original edition, this is a fascinating and revealing look at the troubled making of a modern classic.

A combination history, handbook, and love letter to nearly four hundred movies and television shows featuring swashbucklers Cinema of Swords is a history, guide, and love letter to over four hundred movies and television shows featuring swashbucklers: knights, pirates, samurai, Vikings, gladiators, outlaw heroes like Zorro and Robin Hood, and anyone else who lives by the blade and solves their problems with the point of a sword. Though swordplay thrives as a mainstay of current pop culture—whether Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings or Star Wars—swashbuckling was if anything even more ubiquitous during Hollywood’s classic period, from its foundations in the Silent Era up through the savage bursts of fantasy films in the ‘80s. With this huge cinematic backlist of classics now available online and on-demand, Cinema of Swords traces the roots and branches of this unruly genre, highlighting classics of the form and pointing fans toward thrilling new gems they never knew existed. With wry summaries and criticism from swordplay expert Lawrence Ellsworth, this comprehensive guidebook is perfect as a reference work or as a dazzling Hollywood history to be read end-to-end.

Superheroes! is the ultimate reference book about the men and women in tights who fight for what’s right and the comic book phenomenon that conquered the world. From their origins in stories created by barely grown men during an era of global war and printed on cheap paper for consumption by children, superheroes have grown into a popular culture whirlwind that has attracted millions of fans and crossed over into every form of media. Encompassing early coming books, indie outliers, and the mammoth fictional universes managed by DC and Marvel, Superheroes! chronicles the rise of a distinctly American invention, the modern-day evolution of the myths and legends of old. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Captain America, X-Men, the Justice League and the Avengers—they all represent our greatest hopes, and sometimes our darkest fantasies. Pop culture expert Brian Solomon tells a story that goes from the Golden, Silver and Bronze Ages of comic book history right up to the Modern Age of multimillion-dollar Hollywood movies, and beyond. Perhaps no fictional genre has endured and blossomed over the past eighty years the way superheroes have. Learn all about the creators who have brought them to life: artists like Jack Kirby and Jim Lee, writers like Stan Lee and Alan Moore, actors like Christopher Reeve and Robert Downey Jr., and directors like Tim Burton and Joss Whedon. They’re all here, in all their high-flying, eye-zapping, goon-punching glory. Up, up and away!

The first biography of a major American cultural symbol ever written, Betty Boop: The Most Popular Female Comic Strip and Cartoon Character of All Time describes Betty Boop's creation and incredibly active romantic and family life as revealed in her numerous comic strips, comic books, cartoons, and movies since 1930. From the moment she uttered her first “boop-oop-a-doop!” in 1930, Betty Boop secured her place in history and in the hearts of countless fans. Whether spreading joy during the Depression, thwarting Hitler, running for US president, or flaunting sexual mores, Betty has always been a true American original, embodying and commenting on the culture and attitudes of her time for nearly a century. The Life and Times of Betty Boop is a lively account of the first female, fully human cartoon character, beginning with her creation by the rebellious and innovative young artists of Fleischer Studios, an upstart animation shop intent on competing with Disney. Author Peter Benjaminson traces Betty’s remarkable evolution (originally a dog character, she only gradually became the chanteuse we know today) and dives into the lawsuit that entertainer Helen Kane brought against the Fleischers for allegedly appropriating her image—only for it to come to light that Kane had herself lifted her act from various Black performers. Benjaminson follows Betty through successive historical eras, rebelling against Hollywood’s censorious Hays Code, finding her own path as a self-starting feminist icon, and spawning a merchandising empire that includes everything from watches to wine to Thanksgiving Day floats. Throughout, he shows how, for all her transformations, Betty’s verve and pluck have made her the object of enduring affection.

This revised edition of The Art of Horror Movies includes more films, rare images, and in-depth explorations to bring this award-winning book completely up to date, cementing its position as the definitive and essential guide to horror movies. Through a series of informative chapters and fascinating sidebars chronologically charting the evolution of horror movies for more than a century, profusely illustrated throughout with over 600 rare and unique images including posters, lobby cards, advertising, promotional items, tie-in books and magazines, and original artwork inspired by classic movies, this handsomely designed hardcover traces the development of the horror film from its inception and celebrates the actors, filmmakers, and artists who were responsible for scaring the pants off successive generations of moviegoers! Edited by multiple award-winning writer and editor Stephen Jones and boasting a foreword by director and screenwriter John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), this volume brings together fascinating and incisive commentary from some of the genre''s most highly respected experts. With eye-popping images from all over the world, The Art of Horror Movies: Revised Edition is the definitive guide for anyone who loves horror films and movie fans of all ages.

THE X-FILES FAQ:ALL THAT'S LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT GLOBAL CONSPIRACY ALIENS LAZARUS SPECIES The X-Files FAQ explores Chris Carter's popular 1990s science-fiction TV series, which aired on Fox for nine seasons and inspired spin-offs, including feature films, TV shows, toys, novels, and comic books. The book explores the series in terms of its historical context and analyzes how many of the episodes tackle the events of their time: the Clinton era. The X-Files FAQ also tallies the episodes that are based on true stories, selects touchstone moments from the almost decade-long run, and organizes the series by its fantastic subject matter – from serial killers to aliens, from prehistoric menaces to ethnic and religious-based horrors. In addition, the book recalls the TV antecedents ( Kolchak: The Night Stalker) and descendants ( Fringe) of The X-Files, examines the two feature films, and investigates Chris Carter's other creations, including Millennium, The Lone Gunmen, Harsh Realm, and The After. Featuring numerous stills and the show's most prominent writers and directors, The X-Files FAQ allows readers to relive the “Mytharc” conspiracy and the unforgettable monsters of the week – from the Fluke Man to the Peacocks.